Mother, baby killed

A young mother and her baby daughter burnt to death at home in a fire as the season's first nor'wester in Sirajganj Wednesday night wrecked some thatched houses.
The victims were identified as Shakitan Begum, 25, wife of Nazrul Islam, and their four-month-old daughter Subarna.
Police said an electric wire from a nearby pole snapped under the whips of the rainstorm at about 1:30am and fell on Nazrul's house at Kongachha village in Sadar upazila, igniting a fierce fire.
“Shakitan and her daughter burnt to death in the fire and another daughter, Naima, suffered severe burn injuries,” says a spot account of the incident.
Naima was admitted to sadar hospital in a critical condition.
“A ball of black smoke was billowing in the air from Nazrul's house during the hailstorms accompanied by torrential rain,” a neighbour said.
Two cattle of Nazrul Islam also burnt to death while valuables of his family were gutted in the blaze.
On information, fire fighters from the district town rushed to the spot and put out the blaze.